Chapter 44
After the meal, Albert led Rosalind, saying that he would like to introduce her to the inside of the house.
‘The place to stay is not that big, but still…’ His voice and smile were gentle as he added.
It was not as big as he said, though it was a cutely well-decorated house. Her father was a person who took pleasure in displaying luxury items in the house, so it was nice to see the owner’s touch everywhere in the house.
“I bought this from the sailors myself. It is said to be popular in a distant foreign country, so I gave it to Sister Sevina.”
“It looks strange. Do they sell these, too? I’ve never been that far…”
On the shelf was a statue of an unfamiliar beast.
With pointed ears like a cat, and a menacing body like a lion, Rosalind tilted her head and looked at it. She kept looking at it and found it cute at first glance.
“It doesn’t really exist, but it was said to be a beast that they believe in and worship. It is said to be a beast that protects justice, and to drive away evil and bring goodness and happiness.”
“It has a good meaning.”
“This is something I made myself. I am clumsy in workmanship. I’m embarrassed to show you this. I broke Sister’s treasured jewelry box when I was young, so I made it myself and gave it to her.”
Next to it was a small box. As he said, it was a little clumsy, but it still felt like it was made quite carefully. Seeing that reminded her of her former self, who struggled to embroider with insufficient skill.
“I know that feeling. Regardless of my skill, there are times when I want to do something for someone.”
“It makes me feel less embarrassed because you packaged it so nicely.”
“My relatives mean nothing more than blood. I’m not affectionate either. I’m really envious to see you get along well.”
Rosalind smiled faintly and turned her head to the other side as if trying to shake off her past. As she glanced at the various ornaments, her eyes met the painting hanging on the wall. It was a portrait of a family sitting in harmony.
She noticed right away that it was Albert’s family.
“This must have been a painting when the Baron was young. I don’t know if I can say this, though it’s so cute.”
Perhaps, it was the strength of the portrait, the family in colorful clothes, and the appearance of young Albert seemed fun and warm.
At that, he blushed in embarrassment.
Rosalind, who was examining the painting smiling, opened her mouth casually, “But, the other family members… Did they travel somewhere?”
“My parents are dead. The only family I have left is Sevina.”
She hurriedly bowed her head slightly as she had not thought of it. Then, she remembered what he had just said to her.
‘I’ve lost my parents. That was why it was memorable to me.’
Gazing at the painting again, the portrait of him and his family as a child.
“When I was young, it was difficult, but now it’s okay. Well, there’s the story I was going to tell you earlier.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“…I’d like to have a cup of tea and do it slowly. I will prepare refreshments.”
She wondered what he wanted to talk about by being so hesitant, but she meekly nodded her head. The maid came out with tea, and he kept his silence until the maid left the room. After a while, he opened his mouth.
“I… I was debating whether or not to tell you this.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m trying to investigate the Marquis’ case… it was not as easy to access as expected. It was so strangely difficult that I wondered if the above was deliberately blocking the investigation. I wonder if it may be that high-ranking aristocrats or high-ranking officials are intertwined.”
Her eyes widened at the completely unexpected words.
“Obviously, you said that His Majesty also paid attention to it… Well, it’s a little bit too much to pay attention to…”
Even though investigations were underway, no progress had been made. The only progress that could be made was the discovery of pieces of the criminal’s torn clothes, which, though evidence, was not a clue.
She and her mother looked through the evidence but found nothing.
Her mother also hired someone to look into it, and the Emperor told them that he would pay attention to it. Still, that was all. Instead of news about the culprit, there were only stories about what the situation was.
“I have people research it, but it’s the same for me as there is no result. It’s all about checking the evidence found so far. It was a fairly old fabric, although it was bright yellowish in color. They said that the hem of the criminal’s clothes was probably torn during a physical fight. Strange thing… the people who were attacked while guarding the front door survived because they cleverly evaded the vital spot. However, the truth is that my father was stabbed on the vital spot with no error. Even while fighting like that, precisely.”
“…As you may have never used a knife, saving is as difficult as killing. If you wield it clumsily, it is easy to inflict fatal wounds. They’re probably very good swordsmen. Besides, they didn’t kill the others on purpose, so it wasn’t an indiscriminate crime targeting a lot of people, but it must have been aimed precisely at the target. We cannot rule out the possibility of a crime due to resentment.”
Rosalind bit her lip.
Her father’s death, every time she heard those words, it was as heavy as a stone was placed in her heart.
Her father, whom she had wished to disappear, really suffered misfortune and died. Her relatives didn’t even show their faces properly, and most of her father’s luxurious collection had to be sold. What his father had been so obsessed with and wanted to achieve during his lifetime was so futile.
As the daughter herself, there was nothing she could do right.
By the time she got home, her father had already passed away, and all she could do was to diligently investigate and attach a person to the funeral after she had done her best.
How could she express this complicated and troubled mind…?
“And, what I want to say is… While investigating the Marquis’ death, I discovered something very unexpected.”
“What is something very unexpected?”
Albert looked down again, not responding readily. His fingertips roamed only on the innocent table.
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“Why are you so hesitant?”
“…It wasn’t as easy to access as I thought, so I took a slightly different direction and investigated people who might be related to your father. Though in the meantime… so there was an unexpected person among them.”
“Who is that?”
“Kyle Spencer.”
Rosalind’s hand, as she brought the teacup to her lips, froze.
“Yes? What do you mean…”
“I thought a lot about whether I should tell you about this. Still, I think it’s better to know than to not know… If it’s rude for me to say something like this, I won’t tell you anymore.”
“No. Tell me, please. Whatever.”
Even though the voice she exhaled was a little shaky, she was determined.
“Before the Duke was adopted in the Duchy, he was living a difficult life as an orphan in the Marquis’ estate. At that time, a villager raised him like a child. The people of that village were sold into slavery for a nonsensical reason…by Marquis Baron.”
…Her father?
Rosalind didn’t even understand the meaning of his words. A mysterious light flashed across her face.
“I don’t really know what you mean.”
“It’s just like I said.”
“He has no reason to do such a thing, does he?”
“The reason is, I can tell you a little bit, however… It was said that they were guilty of not offering a virgin as a tribute. At that time, the Duke was lucky that only himself was not sold, and all the villagers were sold into slavery. It was said that it was buried quietly because it was such a small town. After that, the Duke was adopted by the Duchy.”
She didn’t say anything and just stood still. The only thing shaking was her eyes.
“When I took a closer look, the Duke had expressed his intention not to marry several times over.”
Albert carefully continued his words while observing her expression, “…I remembered something you had said before. Your husband has treated you coldly.”
Even though he didn’t speak anymore, she knew enough of what he was talking about. After a while, Rosalind opened her eyes wide like someone who had suddenly come to their senses.
As her trembling hand covered her mouth, a shrill, shaky breath leaked out of the gap.
“…Fa, father is.”
The expression disappeared from her face, and she sat down in her seat, swallowing her tears and screams.
“No, no way…”
It was so shocking that she couldn’t even cry.
The past marriage reverberated through her mind. She couldn’t believe this reality and kept stroking her own cheek and arm. The warmth of the fingertips touching her was unmistakable, and when she tried to hold her arm tight, a pain followed.
Was this really real?
‘…I was the wife whom he had treated unkindly.’
She had thought he hated her for no reason. Even if there was a reason, Rosalind couldn’t figure it out, so she had no choice but to think so.
On the first night where there should be only excitement, why did only his ridicule remain, and why he turned away from her as if ignoring her every time, it seemed that all the puzzles were put together.
The most shocking thing was that when she put the pieces of her father’s misdeeds, all the puzzles were put together, and she didn’t know anything until now.
She just thought her father was extravagant and greedy but had no idea what had happened.
Her father did not even come home much, and even if she did, the young her was busy hiding from him. She couldn’t know a story that even her mother, who had lived with her father for several decades, didn’t know.
What was he thinking every time she showed her feelings for him…?
Thinking of how she must have looked at him all this time, it felt like her heart was breaking into pieces. It was like someone trampling on a broken heart and trampling it down again.
…What kind of wife has she been to him all this time?
“Are you okay? You must be shocked…”
“No. No, it’s okay… No, I don’t really know.”
Rosalind’s voice was trembling unsteadily.
“I have no idea what about this.”
She had never asked Kyle about his past. Although she was curious, Rosalind endured, believing that if she got close to him, he would tell her one day. She never really thought deeply about why he didn’t tell. She only thought that was because he didn’t like her.
“Well, I’m going to take my leave.”
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Rosalind got up from her seat.
She stood up and stumbled for a moment, but she managed to get up and slowly took her step. Nonetheless, she couldn’t take a few steps and collapsed again.
Albert, who was watching her, hurriedly approached her. However, his hand, reaching out to support her, stopped in the air.
Tears were eventually running down her cheeks.
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